Men in Tights

One of my favorite things about working at camp was the costume room. Lake Beauty had an enormous costume room filled with an amazing collection of props and clothing. The place could pretty much accommodate any skit or event, and in bulk. If you wanted to outfit a cabin of 15 boys to be an army, we could do it.

One of our favorite things to do was to dress up in something strange and head into Little Falls or Long Prairie. The camp had quite the reputation in those towns. We kept their heads turning all summer with the strange costumes we’d concoct.

One of my favorite stories did not involve me. And I’m not certain about who did what but I believe it was Jeremy Sohlstrom and Ruel Johnson. They both decided to drive seven miles into town on highway 27 riding the little red golf cart in a Santa suit and Easter Bunny suit. I cannot remember exactly what happened but it had something to do with making a movie sitting on the town Sherman tank. Someone thought that was very disrespectful and called the sheriff. I believe they got a police escort out of town.

My first costume room incident happened during the summer of 1979. A group of us decided to go into Little Falls, home of Charles Lindberg, and watch a movie in the one-room movie theater. But just to make it more fun, we all decided to dress up as old ladies. We all had long, flowing dresses and carried odd objects like trombones, tennis rackets and toilet seats. My odd object was a motorcycle helmet.

We all purchased our tickets and frightened a few of the locals. Into the theater we went awaiting the start of the movie. As I waited I decided to join a small group that went back in to the lobby for treats. I was the last in line. My fellow staff members got their goodies and went back into the theater leaving me alone in the lobby. In came a group of rough looking bikers. I was completely oblivious to the fact I was a guy wearing a long, flowing dress, a wig and a motorcycle helmet. But I soon figured it out since they started to taunt me. All I wanted was popcorn and JuJu Bees.

I remember they followed me into the theater figuring they would beat me up inside. I quickly found my seat in the middle of the Lake Beauty group. Once the group of bikers saw they were outnumbered by a group of rowdy old ladies all in wigs and long dresses, they just left. Score one for the old ladies. The camp has been in the area for over 40 years and has gained an interesting reputation as you can imagine.

One of the best costume related incidents happened during a week where the theme was “Heaven.” That week we met all the campers at the front entrance of the camp dressed in white sheets, halos and cardboard harps. We decorated a gate with big white paper circles that were supposed to be giant pearls. Get it? The Pearly Gates? Well, we thought it was clever.

But it wasn’t only campers that drove past our gates that day. Several locals drove by and got a real eyeful. The next day, the whole town of Long Prairie was talking about the new cult that took over the camp. Even the local authorities became concerned. This only heightened the odd reputation of the camp.

I have no funny way to end this story. I can only leave you with this discovery. It’s much funnier when guys dress up as old ladies than when women dress up as old ladies. That’s all for tonight.